Pathophysiology Exam #3 Flashcards
(240 cards)
How many total vertebra are in the spinal column?
33
How many vertebra in the cervical region of the spinal column?
7
How many vertebra in the thoracic region of the spinal column?
12
How many vertebra in the lumbar region of the spinal column?
5
How many vertebra in the sacral region of the spinal column?
5
How many vertebra in the coccygeal region of the spinal column?
4
Is the word vertebrae plural or singular?
plural, vertebra is singular
How many curvatures of the spine is seen normally and describe each curvature.
There are 4 curvatures(from an anterior perspective)
- cervical convexity-curved towards the ANTERIOR part of the body
- thoracic concavity-curved towards the POSTERIOR part of the body
- lumbar convexity-curved towards the ANTERIOR part of the body
- sacral concavity-curved towards the POSTERIOR part of the body
What is the purpose of the body of the vertebra?
BODY: weight bearing and protection of spinal cord
o Largest and the thickest part of the SCol
o In between sits the intervertebral disk
§ separates and cushions
§ integrity is important for the disk,
§ keeps the intervertebral foramen the same size
What makes up the vertebral arch of the vertebra, and where does it attach in relation to the other structures of the spinal column?
(1) Two pedicles, attached to body
(2) Two laminae, joins lamina from opposite half of
arch
§ lamina from one side and the lamina from the
other, form the SPINOUS PROCESS
Describe the traverse process of the spinal column.
o Extends laterally from each side of arch between
lamina and pedicle
o Attachment for skeletal muscles
Describe the spinous process of the spinal column.
o Junction between TWO lamina o Attachment for skeletal muscles o Sometimes curved down, sometimes they’re horizontal o What you are palpating down the spine
What is the purpose of the vertebral foramen?
foramina of all vertebrae;It forms the vertebral canal for the entire spinal cord
• This is where the SCord sits
• The vertebral foramen size is different, in
different segments of the vertebral columns
because the SCord is not the same diameter all the
way down
Describe the intervertebral foramina(notch).
o Exit for spinal nerves and blood vessels
o Formed by superior and inferior intervertebral
notches in pedicles of adjacent vertebrae
o INFERIOR and SUPERIOR INTERVERTEBRAL NOTCH
§ WHERE THE SPINAL NERVE ROOTS EXIT
o DO NOT CONFUSE VERTEBRAL FORAMEN WITH INTERVERTEBRAL FORAMEN
What is the pedicle of the spinal column?
Foot of the arch with one on each side; forms the lateral wall of the vertebral foramen
What is the lamina of the spinal column?
Posterior part of the vertebral arch; forms the posterior wall of the vertebral foramen
What is the function of the articular processes of the spinal column?
Superior and inferior projections containing articular facets where vertebrae articulate with each other; strengthen the vertebral column and allow for movement.
What is different about C1(atlas) from the rest of the cervical region of the spinal column?
§ ATLAS (C1): - no body -no spinous process -large superior articular facets for base of skull (occipital condyles) to sit -large vertebral foramen v supports the skull v facet is where the DENS sits v allows the head and neck to move up and down (to nod)
What is different about C2(axis) from the rest of the cervical region of the spinal column?
§ AXIS (C2): dens that fits into vertebral foramen of atlas
v DENS (projection upwards) aka the ODONTOID PROCESS
Ø allows for the rotation of the neck
§ Superior articular facet on C2 sits into the inferior articular facet of C1
What is a bifid spinous process of the spinal vertebra?
o Bifid spinous processes
§ bifid: split at the end of the spinous processes
§ muscles of the neck connect here
§ most cervical vertebrae are bifid, for muscle attachment
What are the characteristics of the cervical region of the spinal column?
• CERVICAL(7 vertebrae)
o Small bodies
o Bifid spinous processes
o Horizontal spinous processes
o Transverse foramina (located in the transverse processes) for vertebral arteries(except C7)
§ very important: the cervical transverse foramina have
vertebral arteries that pass through the foramen magnum
that supply the base of the brain
o Relatively large vertebral foramina for cervical
enlargement of spinal cord
What is special about C7?
C7 (VERTEBRA PROMINENS); usually (but not always) has no transverse foramina
*sometimes associated with an extra “cervical rib”
What are the characteristics of the thoracic region of the spinal column?
• THORACIC VERTEBRAE(12 vertebrae)
o Long, thin spinous processes, which become more vertical from above downward
o Vertebral foramina smaller than in cervical vertebrae
o Bodies larger than cervical vertebrae and increase in size from above downward
§ more weight bearing
o Only the first 10 (thoracic vertebrae) have costal facets on transverse processes and bodies for articulations with rib heads and tubercles
§ Superior articular facet for rib head
§ Inferior articular facet for rib head
§ Articular facet for tubercle of rib
o Does not have any transverse foramina in the transverse processes (not arteries)
o Spinous processes are no longer bifid and are fairly
vertical
o Vertebral foramen smaller
o Superior articular facet articulates with the inferior
articular facet above that
o Inferior intervertebral notch: where nerve roots exit
What are the characteristics of the relationship between the thoracic column and the rib articulations?
• THORACIC VERTEBRAE AND RIB ARTICULATIONS
o 12 ribs in man and woman
o 1st seven ribs are called TRUE
RIBS
§ posteriorly they articulate with the vertebral column
§ continue out posteriorly then laterally
§ then curve anteriorly
§ joined with cartilage SEPARATELY, that then joins
to the body of the sternum
o Rib #1 articulates with the manubrium
o Rib #2 joins at the sternal angle
o Ribs #3-7 articulate with the sternum
o Ribs 8-12 are called the FALSE RIBS
§ each rib does not directly join to cartilage that attaches to sternum
§ cartilage to cartilage
o Ribs 11-12 do not join at all and are called the FLOATING RIBS